Villa Monastero

Villa Monastero in Varenna, owned by the Province of Lecco, is one of the most interesting examples of a late 19th century eclectic-style residence. It welcomed more than 350,000 visitors in 2024.
The Villa was created from the transformation of an old Cistercian women's monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In the mid-16th century, the convent was purchased by the Mornico family. It later passed to other owners, and in 1939 was donated by the De Marchi family to become a public asset and a museum.
The House Museum offers an itinerary through 14 rooms, in addition to the section dedicated to the archaeological collection ‘Cattalochino', which will be open to the public from 2026. The refinement of the decorations and furnishings, the richness of the materials and the variety of the spaces welcome the public in an evocative atmosphere. Villa Monastero today forms part of the National Museum System.
The Botanical Garden, which stretches for almost 2 km along the lake front, is rich in special and rare botanical species, which together with the usual Mediterranean flora give it a special and unique appearance.
Villa Monastero is also an internationally renowned conference centre that saw the presence of Enrico Fermi in 1954 (the main hall is named after him). Today it offers the possibility of holding conferences, seminars, training courses and workshops.
The exhibition space is used to host temporary exhibitions of painting, sculpture, photography and art objects.
The context of the Villa is also ideal for educational activities that include tours, workshops and playful activities.
Today, Villa Monastero is the perfect location for ceremonies or as a photographic set for personal shootings for prestigious Italian and foreign fashion magazines.